Thursday, November 28, 2013

We were planning to go to Mimi and Pops' house for Thanksgiving, but those plans changed after last week. We're just having Thanksgiving as a family of five (almost six) and trying to re-create a few of the dishes we would have had there.

We're trying a turkey (almost makes me gag thinking about it). I don't know why but I have the hardest time cooking raw birds. The look, feel, smell of it all. Yuck, yuck, yuck. My poor grandchildren someday when they come to our house for holidays - I'll probably be ordering pizza!

We're doing Mimi's jalapeno cornbread stuffing, a loaf of bread, and mashed potatoes and gravy to go with it.

For dessert, we made Mimi's pumpkin crunch (the boys were a big help)!

Getting ready to put on some of the topping...

Sometimes things got dumped rather than spread...

The finished product...

The boys were so proud of their dessert, and I know we'll all be after we have a piece. We have so, so much to be thankful for, and I hope you do, too!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Here's a random outfit post for Wednesday. I grabbed this vest while in Target during JP's hospital stay. It just looked warm, and a cold front had moved in. While I didn't end up wearing it while we were there, I think I'll like it throughout the winter.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

My last posttalking about my upcoming trip to Chicago with my mom and sister-in-law was a scheduled post. I wrote it Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening, things changed. John Paul had six diapers within thirty minutes, six more throughout the night, a throw-up session and a morning of no eating or drinking with a 102.5 fever. Mind you, all three had had diarrhea since November 1st and all but Peter have had at least three days of throwing up - and, I know I go over and over this, so sorry for the repetition.So, after the two hour trip to the doctor, John Paul was admitted to the hospital to be put on IV fluids and have some tests run. By the time we actually got checked-in, his fever was up to 103.6 and he was pretty lethargic. The first attempt at an IV lasted 30 minutes. His arm started swelling, and all the fluids were going into his muscle. After three more attempts, his final, lasting IV was administered in his scalp.We spent five days in the hospital with him. His fever would fall and then spike again. Then, we couldn't get him to eat anything. He developed a rash, and he left the hospital with a yeast infection and a cold. My mom cancelled our trip to Chicago in order to stay home and keep Carter and Peter, so we didn't get to help my sister with wedding plans. A lot happened in a week. In the end, they ran ever test imaginable, and concluded that it was all a bad virus. While frustrating at times to not have a solid answer, I am so very thankful that it was only that. Things were put into perspective really quickly when we found out the baby next door had cancer.

Being admitted

Finally, a successful IV

Day 2

Two of the prayer warriors back home

Trying to get him to eat

His new gown

Day 4 and a wagon ride in the halls

Working on a smile

The morning we left

Back home

Regardless of the degree of severity, it hurts to see your baby hurting. Thank you all for the texts, messages, prayers, visits, favors and thoughts. We are home now and trying to lay low so he doesn't catch another infection with his immune system compromised (Dr. said it will be 2-3 weeks before he's fully recovered).

And, Carter has begun throwing up again. Seriously.This will be a November we will never forget!